I promised some colour on here, too long ago.
Time seems to be speeding faster than ever atm, did someone press fast forward?
Amongst other tasks I have been up to my elbows in paint and enjoying it immensely.
The paintings start like this;
After a few more stages;
Almost finished;
Finished –a “tighter” painting style than the ones above…..(some of which aren’t going to stay on the stretchers. More later!)
Last Thursday was my birthday – I love to have a “special” day and I spent the morning happily painting. In the afternoon the sun came out and I grabbed the camera to photograph one of my favourite flowers – the Cherry Blossom which is flowering along the drive (always reminds me of 1. My grannies front garden and 2. Happy May Day BBQ’s at 12a – my student days).
I went out chatting to friends and in the evening the boys and I went to Roughting Linn then out for a meal and back to cake and candles (thanks Carol!)
It was good to have a break from the constant work atm. I got the results from my second archaeology module – a distinction, phew. Next module starts June 1st and though I would love a break I am going ahead to avoid the almost doubling in cost, thanks to our wonderful government policy on university education.
I shall be glad when its June 2nd and the next two exhibitions are over / up on display.
Its Beltane and we should be dancing barefoot in a meadow.
Wearing hawthorn blossom in our hair and being courted by a young knight in shining armour. All bathed in golden, warm sunlight.
Don’t you wish life was like this?
When really it means starting the housework at 8.30pm because you have acrylic paint on your nails, in your hair and you’ve had a good day in the studio, but no one took you up on the offer of helping with dusting and hoovering *sigh*.
And don’t tell me not to do the housework, its got to the point of SERIOUSLY NEEDING doing.
Here’s a picture created today from paintings,drawings and photographs.
I’m dancing in the meadow in my head!
One 3,000 word essay to organise and submit
Two textile commissions
Three magazine articles
Two exhibitions in the next two months – posters, press releases, planning, finishing off (OK and creating too)
One web site to update
Numerous business emails to reply to (tick, finished that task today)
3 business meetings to attend this week
One painting course to finish
What I’m really trying to say is that I might not be around much in the next few weeks!
I’ll leave you with some pictures of Castlerigg taken last week.
The new copyright notices are because of Pinterest and similar sites. I think I need to tweak but the information is there for now.
OK, I’m off for a break - to cut the lawn wearing fleeces and ski gloves as its COLD out there! Oh and I forgot to have lunch!
Hello! You might be wondering where I’ve been after the show report?
I’ve had a dreadful cold for 16 days now and feeling very sorry for myself.
I’ve carried on (as mothers have to) you can’t take to your bed in the school holidays, especially when you have booked three days away in the Lakes with your DS.
We had a wonderful time – lots of snuggling up watching TV in bed and eating chips by Derwent Water – where we sat huddled in fleeces, looking out across the lake at the snow on the hills and the sunlight making it all sparkle.
It was magical.
Here are a few pictures, more to come.
These stones above are known as “Helen’s Stones” as I took an iconic picture here in…. let me think…. autumn 1989. Gosh, really that long ago?
In that photograph the stones were partly submerged in the lake and I got one of the best photographs I’ve ever taken.
It was also a special time in my life. I worked for 12 months in Cumbria as part of my degree and I totally fell in love with the area (and the guy, who didn’t stay around long enough *sigh*).
Anyway I digress….. every time we visit here we HAVE to see if the stones are visible. I’ve seen them (or not) totally submerged but I have never seen them this high and dry.
DS enjoyed the climbing wall and I learnt how to be an “anchor buddy”. Great fun.
And here he is wearing the hat HE MADE HIMSELF!
Now, who’s a proud mummy???
ME!!!
Finally – this is where I’ve been over the Easter weekend, Friday at Alnwick (above), Saturday at Kelso and Monday at Norham.
Hunting out old linens and laces.
I think I am enjoying the hunt as much as the dyeing and creating!
What a fantastic week I’ve had.
We drove down on Tuesday (both cars), settled into the hotel and had a lovely meal in the restaurant. Just the two of us for once in a long, long, time.
Wednesday was set up day, we arrived at 10am, found the stand and grabbed a coffee whilst we waited for the paint to dry (quite literally!)
By 11am we were hanging pictures and at 7pm, we finally finished.
Back again at 9.30am and the show was live!
The show was wonderful, I met so many lovely people, some who read the blog (hello!), some who have seen my work in Stitch and Quilting Arts magazines.
There are three magazines interested in featuring my work, a thread company to liaise with, I sold five pictures and lots of fabric packs and made lots of new contacts and had wonderful, wonderful feedback.
I met up with internet friends and said hello to an old friend from school that I hadn’t seen for 26yrs.
Best thing of all – each day someone (and Thursday and Friday several people) came back at the end and told me that, having looked at everything, in their opinions I had the best stand at the show.
It gives you a lovely warm feeling inside!
So here you go – lots of photographs taken from all angles.
For the show there will be four main themes of colour, on the outside walls creams, inside there will be greys, “coast” colours and purples.
In each section will be a costume (or two), a tower (or two), framed pictures and fabric banners.
The banners are printed onto silk chiffon and are just under 50x200cm.
You have no idea how excited I am to have these as its something I have thought about for many years.
Less than two weeks now until the show. I’m on stand ZH07, please come and say hello if you read the blog!
There will be four costumes, several towers (some never seen before – OK, if I’m honest some still to be stitched together) and numerous framed pictures. All will be for sale (from £45), there will be postcards and fabric scrap packs (from £3.50).
As a break from the intensive fabric work I’ve been painting.
Something very different from my other paintings, but why did I not do this years ago?
Why, why why?
Isn’t this colour work just “me”?
(Sorry for the slight blur)
And painting on fabric too, hoping I’ll be able to handle this again very soon so I can finish the embroidery and beading.
